UnitedHealth Group Reportedly Under Criminal Investigation for Alleged Medicare Fraud

The insurance and health care company UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) may be under federal criminal investigation for alleged Medicare fraud. The U.S. Justice Department has not released the specific allegations against the company. However, they are reportedly related to UnitedHealth Group’s business practices within its Medicare Advantage plans, according to the Wall Street Journal, which […]

DOJ Rejects Amedisys, UnitedHealth’s Divestiture to BrightSpring, Pennant

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has rejected the sale of Amedisys’ (Nasdaq: AMED) home health and hospice assets to BrightSpring Health Services Inc. (Nasdaq: BTSG) and The Pennant Group (Nasdaq: PNTG) as a remedy to an ongoing lawsuit. Amedisys earlier this month announced the divestiture of a number of its home health and hospice […]

Judge Upholds Ruling in VitalCaring, Encompass Health Case

A federal judge has denied VitalCaring’s request to reconsider a ruling requiring that a portion of the company’s future profits be placed in trust for the benefit of Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) and Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB). The case dates back to 2022, when Encompass Health spun off its home health and hospice business, creating […]

Inside Hospice Organizations’ Special Focus Program Lawsuit Against HHS

The crux of a lawsuit filed by hospice organizations against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday is the criteria that the agency uses to select hospices for the new Special Focus Program (SFP). A group of providers and state associations are plaintiffs in the suit, including Texas Association for Home […]

Hospice Organizations File Lawsuit to Halt Special Focus Program

A group of hospice providers and state associations have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the implementation of the Special Focus Program (SFP). The organizations filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas-Houston Division. The plaintiffs include: Texas Association for Home […]

Crossroads Hospice Sues HHS Over Recouped Payments

A Kansas City, Missouri, location of Crossroads Hospice has filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra alleging that a Medicare contractor wrongfully sought to recoup payments. The legal action follows a series of administrative appeals of the results of an audit of the hospice provider by the contractor. Crossroads […]

How the Downfall of the ‘Chevron Doctrine’ Could Affect Hospices in the Courts

Recent court rulings have the potential to make significant differences in the landscape of hospice regulatory oversight in coming years, particularly when it comes to audits and the forthcoming Special Focus Program (SFP). In June the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ruling that in 1984 established the “Chevron Doctrine,” which instructed lower courts to defer […]

Gentiva Sues Bristol Hospice, Nurse Administrator

Gentiva has filed a lawsuit against Bristol Hospice alleging that a former employee violated agreements with the company, including those for noncompetition and confidentiality. The company filed the suit in a federal court in Maine. Gentiva alleges that a registered nurse administrator disclosed trade secrets after leaving the company and securing employment with Bristol. The […]